Meat birds were processed

[carousel]

well, after a pause at one point wondering and then avoiding making the appt to having my meat birds processed

I ended up with 42.5# of chicken in the fridge right now.
this was from 7 straight run cornish crosses - I ended up with 4 cockerels and 3 pullets.
the processed weights (I also paid extra to have them cut up and wrapped)
5.25#, 4.75, 7, 5, 6.75, 7.75, 6

I also ended up with 3 pounds of giblets including feet for my dogs so a total of 45.5# we can use!

I paid 3.10 a bird so 21.70
I had a good experience, as I was able to drop them off at schedule appt and pick them up 90 min later.

I do have odd mixed feelings they had such good personalities but I figured I gave them a good life although short.
only part I wish I could have avoided is I had trouble with coccidia. But treated them off and on to keep it at bay.

overall I had a great experience given I had "meaties" in the back yard.
I think I might have been able to raise as many as 10 but that would be max if I am going to raise them to 8-9 weeks. I will pay VERY careful attention to the weather, they were outside the last 2 weeks and that was the ONLY reason I could tolerate it (prior to that they were in the garage)

I also had a great experience with the processor Mineral Springs Poultry

I agree that this is not a big money saver, for me to raise poultry this way the meaties went through about 150# of food. that cost about 16.00 a bag? so they they cost about 1.00 a pound to raise? then about .50 a pound to process.

sure I can buy cheaper? but I don't think they will be as good as mine!

so yes? I would do it again!

 

[greyfields]

I reckon you went through 15-20 #'s of feed per bird there, so does that come up to $1 each? Also, you left out the cost of getting the birds. Howabout shelter, fencing, netting, power, brooder lamps/bulbs, mileage to/from processor...etc.

I agree it's not a big money saver and is probably a money loser... but that wouldn't discourage me. Well done!

 

[sara]

Quote:
I think she divided the cost per pound of meat she got, for that 1.00 figure. I didn't check the math, but I think thats what's up there. But as you said cost of chicks, and stuff would need added in.

Oh, and good for you doing this. I'm sure your proud of yourself. I can't wait for mine to be ready to butcher.

 

[carousel]

I was giving it a "rough"
I ordered the meaties along with layers.
I sold all the layers
my order shipped was 56.00? something dollars and I sold 75.00+ of laying pullets from day old-4 weeks - LOL in fact sold 1 of the 2 I kept - turned out to be a rooster! last night for 5.00 more.

So the meaties really didn't cost me to purchase. Selling the layers more than paid for them.
I figured I had about 3 bags 50 bags of food (1 bag of meat bird, 2 of flock raiser) at about 15.00 each that was roughly 45.00 - since I have roughly 45# of chicken - I figure food cost me about 1.00 a pound of chicken. Since I also had some layers mixed in part of the time so these are rough numbers.

and yes I had gas to take them to the processor (7 chicks were processed, cut up and wrapped for 21.70)
but per pound it was about 1.50 food and processing.
I had feeders I had heat lamps layers were using these things also.

they were off heat for their last 4 weeks, outside the last 2 weeks,
they were processed at 9 weeks. Much of the weather was reasonable at the start (they came Sept 3) there might have been a few days past 5 weeks they had heat just at night (they were in my garage until 7 weeks when they went outside for the last 2.

For me it was worth it.
not having to make 2 trips to the processor as I would have at another place, that was also a good thing. The Casino is just a few miles away and I could have gone and gambled!

 

[greyfields]

Tell me more about Mineral Springs. I currently go to Harrington's for all my Oregon customers and Woodland (Dee Creek) for my Washington ones. I'm in Wahkiakum County, so 39 miles upstream from Astoria on the Washington side.

 

[carousel]

gosh from a Novice? what do you want to know? it is a small but busy operation but wow it worked GREAT for me!

 

[greyfields]

I didn't realize that operatio even existed... and they cut & wrapped, too? How much did you pay? It would be a considerable longer distance for me to drive, but we head down to Scio every other weekend for training our border collie.

Oregon is strange, sicne it requires USDA inspection. Washington is state inspected, but no one will cut, wrap or freeze the birds for you. Getting the poultry processed, legally, is far harder than growing the birds.

 

[carousel]

they cut and wrapped for me it was 3.10 a bird
they had several options on how it was cut or how you got the bird back.
I found their info on this board by searching for Oregon Procesors? maybe even Minearal springs Poultry.
But I was happy!